When the irrepressible C.C. Bloom (Bette Midler) and the shy and proper Hillary Whitney (Barbara Hershey) first meet under the boardwalk at the beach, all the 11-year-olds have in common is the need for a best friend. Worlds apart in lifestyle and location, their friendship ebbs and flows through a lifetime of highs and lows, career changes, marriages, jealousy, and more. From the boardwalk in Atlantic City to the beach house on the Pacific, BEACHES will remind you of the true meaning of friendship.

Specifications

Touchstone Pictures

2012, Color, rated: R, 2 hour 3 Minutes

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

1080p

Codec: AVC

English DTS-HD MA 5.1

Starring: Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, John Heard

Directed by Gary Marshall

Rating

Entertainment:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Violence: No

Sex: No

Language: Yes

Commentary

O.K... Admittedly, this is a tough movie for a guy to have to sit through. Sentimental, silly, smaltzy and of course a yank-on-the-heart-string ending combined with a film that runs just a bit too long was tough for me to endure to the end. What I can say is Bette Midler has pretty good comedic chops. The rest of the players were a bit flat compared to her vivaciousness. Speaking of flat, am I alone in thinking that Midler sings slightly off key and slides into her notes? The whole movie seemed to me to be a setup just so she could belt out one of her numbers every 10 minutes or so. I know this was a BIG movie in the 90’s, but I don’t find that it has aged well over time. That said, if you are a gal and looking for something to make you cry on a Thursday night, this is a sure Bette.

Technical

Ouch! The picture quality is barely better than that of the DVD. Few details show up through the entire film. There are no textures in the clothing or hair. Skin tones appear pasty. Colors and contrasts are fine, but the whole movie is just a little too soft and fuzzy. Sound only comes out during the musical numbers and the dialog in some parts sounds a bit thin and anemic. A disappointment, to be sure. Technically, this film has been...ahem...beached.